Metro: Fee agreed for Coutinho

This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.

Liverpool are reportedly set to sign top target Philippe Coutinho after Inter Milan accepted their £8.5million offer for the Brazilian midfielder.

The news would bring to a close a fortnight long saga involving Coutinho, with the player expected to arrive in England early next week for a medical.

Reds boss Brendan Rodgers has had to fend off competition from Premier League rivals Southampton for the 20-year-old, with reports in Italy suggesting that the Saints had offered a substantially bigger transfer fee.

However, Coutinho's apparent desire to move to Anfield seems to have won over, and the Reds are expected to reward that attitude with healthy terms on a five-year-contract.

The deal comes about after Liverpool twice failed to agree a fee during negotiations with Inter in the last few days, with their £7million and £8million bids both known to have been rejected.